Back in 2008, Karan Johar delivered a Bollywood classic with Dostana, a hilarious rom-com that broke new ground for its time. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film followed two straight men, played by Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, pretending to be gay to secure an apartment, only to fall for their flatmate, Priyanka Chopra Jonas. When Johar announced a sequel in 2019 featuring Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and newcomer Lakshya, fans were ecstatic.
However, the highly anticipated Dostana 2 was shelved indefinitely after Kartik’s abrupt exit due to a rumoured fallout with Karan Johar. While early reports speculated that Janhvi and Lakshya would play siblings vying for Kartik’s affection, a recent interview has revealed the actual storyline.
In a conversation with News18, actress Juhi Babbar, who was in talks for the project, disclosed, “I had been getting many calls even after Aiyaary didn’t work at the box office, especially for motherly roles. Then I got an offer from Dharma Productions for Dostana 2.” She added, “They gave me the role of Kartik and Janhvi’s mother. Basically, they were playing twins in it.”
This revelation suggests that the plot would have revolved around twins, played by Kartik and Janhvi, falling for the same man, Lakshya. The concept was certainly a refreshing twist, and fans can only imagine the entertainment it might have delivered.
Juhi also shed light on why the film was shelved in 2021, saying, “Kuch toh anban ho gayi (There was some disagreement), and even though the film was almost 60-70 percent complete, it got shelved.”
Despite the setback, Kartik Aaryan and Karan Johar appear to have reconciled. They are now collaborating on the upcoming rom-com Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, slated for a 2026 release. Interestingly, Kartik and Karan were recently spotted with Janhvi Kapoor, sparking speculation that she might reunite with Kartik for this new project.
While Dostana 2 may never see the light of day, the prospect of Kartik and Janhvi sharing the screen again certainly keeps fans intrigued.